“Metro Arts” is the office of Arts & Culture for the city of
Nashville and Davidson County. We believe that arts drive a more vibrant
and equitable community. We strive to ensure that all Nashvillians have
access to a creative life through community investments, artist and
organizational training, public art and creative placemaking
coordination and direct programs that involve residents in all forms of
arts and culture.

Metro Arts is seeking to expand its
Percent for Public Art Collection by identifying Nashville-Davidson County
artists from whom to purchase original artworks for its permanent collection.
Artworks may include 2-dimensional artworks and 3-dimensional wall-hung artworks. Artworks may be portrait
or landscape in orientation. They may be no larger than 60” (h) x 192”
(l) with most artworks measuring 36” (h) x 48” (l) or smaller.
Three-dimensional wall-hung artworks may protrude no more than 6” from
the wall.

Art
WORKS is a multi-phased initiative that will result in the installation of artworks
in many Metro buildings. By applying for the Metro Office Building Collection
Purchase, the artist may be considered for future calls at other Metro
buildings

Eligibility

Professional artist. An artist of least
18 years of age with the following qualifications:

at least two years of visual art
exhibition history, or

at least two years of commissioned
visual or public art.

Architects, landscape architects and other
design professionals are not considered professional artists under this
definition, unless they meet the criteria. Exhibitions, commissions or public
art created during or as part of an artist’s undergraduate education shall not
count towards these criteria.

Galleries and artist’s representatives
are encouraged to submit materials on behalf of their artists.

Davidson County residency. Artist
must maintain primary residency or studio in Davidson County. List residency in
Letter of Interest.

**These qualifications must be demonstrated in artist
resume**

Employees of the Metro Nashville Arts
Commission or the Metro Nashville Government are ineligible to apply. Family
and household members of Metro Arts employees are also ineligible. Members of
the Metro Nashville Arts Commission or Public Art Committee are ineligible for
public art commissions or projects. Artists may reference section VII of
the Public Art Guidelines online at http://publicart.nashville.gov.

Art WORKS Budget

Metro Arts will select up
to 11 artists from whom we will purchase artwork for locations
in public spaces throughout the First Floor, Second Floor, Third Floor, and
Fourth Floor of the Metro Office Building. Typical values will range from $250
to $5,000 per artwork.

Site
for Art WORKS

The
Metro Office Building is located at 800 Second Avenue South on the Richard H. Fulton
Campus at the corner of Second Avenue South and Lindsley Avenue. On its first
floor is Water Services and the Development Services Center which brings together permits, plan
reviews, and zoning from multiple Metro departments. The Planning Department
offices are on the second floor. The third floor houses Codes and Building Safety. On the fourth floor is the
Election Commission satellite office and Metro Arts Commission offices.

All artworks for this acquisition will
be located in public areas. Successful artworks will stimulate, visually
represent, and contribute to the character and texture of Nashville and
Davidson County, Metro government,
and the Metro Office Building environment. Artworks will be installed along the central hallway and
in conference rooms.

Vision for Art WORKS: Metro
Office Building Collection

Artists
are encouraged to consider the following vision for this acquisition:

Artwork
for the Art WORKS: Metro Office Building Collection should reflect one or more
of the following:

natural or built
environment of Davidson County

distinctive
character of Nashville neighborhoods

transformation over
time and new beginnings in our city

In a broader sense, the collection may:

stimulate creative thinking and
foster artistic development in the community.

serve as a tool for community
development and/or social impact

Metro Office Building History

This
building at 800 Second Avenue South was originally conceived in 1909 as a
teaching hospital to be called Galloway Memorial Hospital, a joint venture
between Vanderbilt and Methodist Episcopal Church. Construction of the new
hospital began in 1912 at the old University of Nashville campus and the
cornerstone was laid in 1913. However, Vanderbilt decided instead to move its
medical school closer to its main academic campus, leaving the structure only
partially completed. The building was left vacant until the City of Nashville
purchased it for $100,000 in 1939 around the time it bought acreage for Howard
School. The building was remodeled, with the addition of an elevator, for the city’s
Health Department, Humane and Juvenile Court, and crime prevention bureau. By
1965, the building had become Metro’s Juvenile Court Detention Building. In
2005, new windows and utility systems were added and the building was renovated
again, this time for use by Metro Codes Administration, Election Commission, Human
Relations commission, Planning Department, and Arts Commission. In 2006, the
Metro Council changed the name of the Howard Office Complex to the Richard H.
Fulton Complex in honor of the former mayor. The Development Services Center, established
in 2014 and administered by Codes, brings together permit offices from multiple
Metro departments

Artist
Submission Instructions

Please read through carefully before submitting. Incomplete
submissions will not be reviewed. No submissions will be accepted after the
deadline. Technical questions about the online submission process (i.e. image
upload, Submittable account set-up, etc.) should be directed to http://help.submittable.com/

All Submissions must be submitted via Submittable and
are due Friday, April 13, 2018
by 11:59 p.m. Central Daylight Time. In order to be considered, artists are required to submit
the following materials:

Letter of Interest. A brief (no
more than one-page) artist statement, which should encompass why your work
is appropriate for this Collection. Indicate location of artist’s primary
residency or studio in Davidson County

Artwork Images: Artist must
upload six (6) digital images representative of your artwork*.
(File types accepted: JPG, PNG, GIF, TIFF). Artists are required to
include basic specifications of each image (title, media, dimensions, year
and retail price). *Artists will be selected based on their portfolio
of works. Specific artwork purchases will be conducted via studio visit
after artist selection. Commissions of new works are not desired at
this time. Please do not submit composite images as they are hard to view
by the selection panel.

Current Artist Résumé: not to
exceed four single-sided pages or 2MB. Resume must demonstrate artistic
practice as defined by the Public
Art Guidelines.

References: three artistic
professional references (those who can speak to your artwork and your
experience as an artist)

Selection
Criteria

Artists will be selected based on the
following criteria of their work:

Artistic quality

Aesthetic merit

Appropriateness of artworks for a
public and workplace setting

Ability of work to add vibrancy
and/or visual impact to a professional workplace

Artist’s work reflects project
vision

Diversity of work and artists
represented in the Metro Public Art Collection

Small-to-medium scale artworks
that can be easily stored and moved as space needs change

Artwork that is in good physical
condition and its projected future maintenance and conservation needs are
not cost prohibitive

Selection
Process

Applications Due by 11:59 p.m. Central Daylight Time on Friday,
April 13, 2018.

Image and Application Review: From the submissions received,
a citizen selection panel made up of visual artists, arts and design
professionals, community representatives and those representing the site (Metro Office Building), will
choose up to 11 artists.

Review and Recommendation: Selected artists will be
recommended to the Public Art Committee, who will make final artist
recommendations to the Metro Arts Commission. Metro Arts will notify all
artists regarding the Commission’s selection.

Purchase: Metro Arts staff will visit
artists’ studios to select specific artworks for purchase. Artists must
complete: Vendor Short Form, a Purchase Agreement, and a Conservation Plan.
Artist will deliver unframed artworks to a secure location provided
by Metro Arts.

Project
Timeline

Note: The following timeline is a
working guide for planning purposes and may be adjusted as necessary.

Issue Call to
Artists - March 13, 2018

Artist
Submissions Due - 11:59 p.m. CDT April 13, 2018

Selection
Committee Review of Artists – late April-early May 2018

Public Art
Committee Review and Recommendation- late April-early May 2018

Arts Commission
Review and Recommendation - May 17, 2018

Artist Awards
late - late May 2018

Artwork
Selection by Metro Arts - June 2018

Artist Purchasing
Process - July 2018

Artwork Framing,
managed by Metro Arts - August 2018

Artwork
Installation - September 2018

Questions

Direct all questions related to this Call to Artists to: anne-leslie.owens@nashville.gov
with MOB Collection Purchase in the subject line or (615) 862-6732.
Questions will be taken through 4:00 p.m. on Monday, April 9, 2018.

Metro Nashville is interested in supporting artistic and cultural activation throughout the city.

Metro allows artists or organizations who are working with a professional artist(s) to install artworks in the Metro Right of Way. Artworks, with prior approval and appropriate agreement, may include signal box covers, sidewalks, retaining walls, or other locations deemed appropriate by Metro.

An agreement, appropriate permits and final artwork design must be approved in writing before installation begins. Metro shall also have the final determination on where artwork can be located.

Artwork Criteria

Artworks in right-of-way will not be approved, if the artwork design violates any of the following:

Artwork is not allowed to contain inappropriate or offensive images or words.

Artworks that convey messages appearing to advertise or promote a commercial entity (corporation or for-profit business) will not be accepted.

If the artwork promotes an organization or non-profit entity, a sign permit may be required.

Images that create a driver distraction or could be confused with traffic control devices will not be accepted.

In addition to the Artwork in the right-of-way agreement, applicants will be required to obtain a permit for any activity occurring in the right-of-way. This may include temporary sidewalk or traffic lane closures.

Physical structures (sculptures or objects) planned to be located in the right-of-way will require an encroachment permit. Encroachment permits must be approved by the Metropolitan Council. An artwork with a below ground foundation also requires an excavation permit.

Applicant must notify, in writing, any abutting property owners (street, road, alley or right-of-way or fee owner of easement) and the district member of council representing the area of such artwork before Metro approval and agreement may be executed. Documentation of such communications may be required.

Installation, Safety and Maintenance Requirements

By approval of an Artwork in the Right of Way, Metro does not accept ownership of said artwork nor any responsibility for future maintenance. Any on-site liability of the artwork or installation of artwork is assumed by the applicant/artist.

No artwork can obstruct or cause American with Disabilities Act (ADA) violations in the right-of-way.

Any art placed on a sidewalk must be made of an anti-skid resistant material. The material must comply with the American with Disabilities Act.

All artwork materials used should be designed for use on the particular surface to be painted (or adhered to). Metro reserves the right to review and approve any materials.

The applicant shall clean and prime surfaces prior to the application of materials unless this requirement is waived in the agreement.

Paint and other materials shall be applied according to manufacturer’s instructions.

Vinyl wraps must be professionally installed.

Ventilation channels on utility boxes shall not be covered with paint or other materials.

Anti-graffiti coatings are encouraged. Removal of graffiti often results in the removal of the anti-graffiti coating as well so it may need to be reapplied.

If artwork is tagged with graffiti or damaged within the time period approved in the Artwork in Right of Way agreement, Metro will contact the applicant to repair. The applicant has 3 days from notification to abate graffiti and 30 days from notification to repair any other damage. If graffiti is not removed within 3 days, Metro reserves the right to paint over the portion of the artwork where the graffiti is located.

Metro reserves the right to remove or cover any artwork if it is determined to be a safety hazard, is too large, interferes with the flow of pedestrian or vehicular traffic, creates a maintenance problem, interferes with public service or other activities in adjacent areas or is otherwise inappropriate for the space.

If the Metro-owned property including utility boxes, retaining walls, sidewalk, etc. needs to be repaired or replaced -in part or whole – while the artwork is in place, there is no obligation on the part of Metro to replace, repair or reinstall the artwork. However, the applicant will be given notice so that the artwork can be removed or relocated – should that be possible.

Public Art Selection Panelist: A public art
Selection Panel is comprised of artists, community and business
representatives, architects, landscape architects and other design
professionals and Metro representatives. These panels review submissions for public art projects and makes recommendations to the Public Art Committee.

Metro Arts strives to form selection panels that
are diverse and appropriate to the specific project or program. Though
voluntary, the demographic data and resume upload included in this form will
assist Metro Arts in accomplishing this goal.

Metro Arts looks for individuals who are
thoughtful, willing to listen to others' opinions and are able to represent a
specific viewpoint that is relevant to the public art project. Self nominations
are welcome.

Panelist Eligibility Criteria:

Every Metro Arts
panelist must work or live in Davidson County, have a keen interest in the arts
(as an artist, participant, audience member, donor, educator, etc.), and must
not be an employee of Metro government (including Metro Nashville Public
Schools) or any applicant organization. All panelists must declare real or
perceived conflicts of interests in advance.

When Metro Arts assembles a review panel, we:

1. seek to achieve diversity among panelists in
age, race/cultural identity, council district residency, physical abilities,
personal and professional interests, expertise, etc.;

2. trust all panelists to honestly declare all
applicant-related real or perceived conflicts as soon as they become aware that
a conflict exists;

3. expect all panelists to take the review
process seriously and honor their commitment to serve as instructed;

4. recruit panel members who truly care about the
arts in our community, as non-artists or artists.

Metro recently adopted an ordinance and guidelines for the purpose of evaluating potential donated artworks. This policy plans for the fact that there are limited suitable sites on public property for placement of donated artworks and limited public funds for maintenance and conservation of donated artworks. Each artwork will be evaluated by the Public Art Committee and the Metro Arts Commission in addition to the Metro Department accepting the donation.

In order for Metro to evaluate donations, donors are required to provide information about the artwork donation via Submittable at least six (6) months prior to the anticipated donation acceptance date.
You may also download the donor checklist/worksheet to assist in the process of gathering information about your artwork.

***PLEASE NOTE** Donations of artwork that require the city to pay for costs such as installation, transportation, site preparation or repair are not encouraged. Artwork requiring high or excessive maintenance may be declined.

Ordinance No. BL2015-1277 "D. Unless the metropolitan council has appropriated funding specifically for the installation and maintenance costs for the donated artwork, a donor’s proposal shall include funding adequate to cover all costs for the design, fabrication, insurance, transportation, storage, installation, and maintenance of the proposed artwork for a period of ten years from the date of acceptance, plus contingency funds for reasonable unforeseen circumstances."

THRIVE is a micro-funding program designed to build,
strengthen, and cultivate communities in Nashville and Davidson County by
supporting artist led projects that encourage artistic and cultural
experiences, community investment, and neighborhood transformation.

Note: Application may be saved and edited. Staff will not
be able to read you applications until submitted. Staff can re-open
applications for editing.

·
Completed Metro Arts Vendor Form
*This form requires a social security number or federal tax identification
number issued by the Internal Revenue Service.

·
If requesting funds in the category of Public
Arts, a completed Public Artwork Information Form. (url link)

Funding Categories

•
Community Art Sharing and Celebration
($3,000): A Community Art Sharing and Celebration project will support artist
fees for projects that strategically shape the physical, social character and
celebrate our Nashville neighborhoods through the sharing of an artistic
practice. In this category, the community informs the artist’s vision for the
work. A competitive application will include an intention of social impact
beyond a traditional audience experience.

•
Community Co-design & Collaboration
($4,000): A Community Co-design & Collaboration project will focus on
collaboration with the community by actively engaging participants in the
art-making process. These projects must involve a strong, committed partnership
between the artist and a specific group, organization or neighborhood. The
needs of the partner and the community should determine the vision for the
artwork. The artwork should be largely process-based. In this funding category,
the public is required to participate in the physical creation and/or design of
the artwork.

•
Public Art ($8000): Public Art is a new
category introduced to THRIVE in fiscal year FY18. This category supports the
creation of temporary and permanent public artworks in a public space. A
competitive application in this category will exhibit an intention of social
impact beyond a traditional audience experience and/or show strong committed
partnerships between the artist and a specific group, organization, or neighborhood.
The needs of the partner and the community should determine the vision of the
artwork. The artwork should be largely process based and the community is
required to participate in the physical creation and/ or design of the artwork
in this category. This funding category requires the approval of the Metro Art
Commission’s Public Art Committee in addition to the Metro Art Commission.

Eligibility

•
Individual artists, businesses and organizations
that reside or conduct programming in Davidson County are eligible to apply.
Individuals requesting or receiving funds must be at least 18 years of age.

•
Organizations that receive funding from any
grant administered by Metro Arts in the same fiscal year are not eligible to
apply for THRIVE funds.

•
Applicants (and immediate family members) cannot
serve as a member of the Metro Arts Board of Commissioners, nor can they be
employed by the Metro Nashville Davidson County Government or Metro Nashville
Public Schools.

•
For the purposes of the THRIVE program, artists
are defined as individuals who practice in the unique creation and public
display or performance of visual arts, craft, sound and performance art, film
and television (including production), theatre, dance, music or literary arts
and can demonstrate at least two years of exhibition, performance or
professional history.